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Welsh language FAQ

Linguata

Question: What are the advantages of learning some Welsh?

A grasp of Welsh gives access to the oldest of the group of British languages which includes Cornish, Manx and Breton. It can be traced back to the 8th century AD. In addition to its rich classical literature it has given rise to a flourishing contemporary literature, sustains a dedicated TV channel, and is the language preferred by many tens of thousands for everyday use.

 Question: I am planning to visit Wales. Is there any point learning some Welsh?

Given that there are probably no adult monoglot Welsh speakers still alive in Wales today visitors to Wales are unlikely to find themselves in situations where communication is a problem, with one important exception, directions. The local Welsh will be puzzled and dismayed by the visitor’s pronunciation of place-names. Even a beginner's knowledge of the Welsh language will enable an English speaker to pronounce Welsh place-names with a fair degree of accuracy. You will also hear Welsh spoken, particularly in North Wales, and while not essential for communication, learning a few basic Welsh words and phrases will make your visit more interesting.

 Question: Can I learn to pronounce and recognize Welsh names effectively?

English-speakers tend to recoil when presented with a complex Welsh place-name such as Llansanffraid Glynceiriog or Penrhyndeudraeth (or even, for that matter, Llanfairpwllgwyngychgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch!) . If they are compelled to pronounce them the result will often be a confused and stumbling attempt which only succeeds in perplexing their would-be guides. The solution is however simple - see below.

Question: What does Llanfairpwllgwyngychgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch mean?

It starts with Llanfairpwllgwyngyll. This is the ‘Church of (St) Mary in Pwllgwyngyll’ which translates as ‘The Church of St Mary by the pool with the white (gwyn) willows (cyll, plural of collen, hazel). The rest was added in the 1850’s by a local man: goger y chwyrn drobwyll  - ‘fairly close to the wild (chwyrn) whirlpool (trobwll)’ of ‘Llantysiliogogogoch’, of the red cave of Llantysilio (the Church of St Tysilio).

Ref: Dictionary of Place-Names of Wales by H.W.Owen and Richard Morgan, pub. Gomer Press, Llandysul, 2007.

 Question: Is it true that a beginner can learn to pronounce Welsh easily?

The answer to this is 'yes': 'received' Welsh is spelt as it sounds once it is realized that the Welsh alphabet represents some sounds differently, e.g. 'f' on its own sounds like an English 'v', 'dd' sounds like 'th' in 'them', 'ff' like 'f' in 'funnel', 'ch' as in Scottish 'loch', and 'll' is a unique sound produced by trying to say 'sh' with the tip of the tongue pressed behind the upper front of the mouth, allowing air to escape between the tongue and upper teeth on one side of the mouth.

The rhythm and intonation can only be acquired by listening to spoken Welsh and by spending time with a program such as Linguata Welsh which allows you to play common words and phrases repeatedly and, most important, enables you to listen to and monitor your own pronunciation.

 Question:  How can I learn to pronounce Welsh names?

Once you have grasped the basics of the Welsh alphabet (see above), the next step is to recognize that Welsh names, particular place-names, can be broken down into smaller words, many of which re-occur frequently. A common example is Llan, with the approximate meaning of 'church', followed by the name of the saint to whom the church is dedicated. The first example above, Llansanffraid Glynceiriog, translates as 'the church of St Ffraid in the valley (glyn) of the Ceiriog'; the second, Penrhyndeudraeth, is 'the headland (penrhyn) of the two (deu) beaches (traeth)'. Once you have a sense of how these names are composed it becomes much easier to pronounce them correctly.